Bill McGuigan
December 2009 // Interviewed by Elizabeth Millard
You win some, but you lose more: I’ve learned
along the way what makes a good deal, and
what a failure looks like. So I trust my gut now
as to whether I write a check or not.
invest in the people: The reason companies
fail is people, so I think if you’re going to invest,
you should be investing in the person who’s
running the place.
Growing is fun: A big payday isn’t what I’m
about. I want to be involved with a company
that’s growing out of control, because then you
know you’re on to something.
Where have all the angels gone? People are
definitely holding back, because lately they’ve
hit the electric fence a few times and they’re
hurting. The pool of money has also shrunk,
and that includes everything from mezzanine
financing on up.
What makes an angel write a check: The
product or service has to be easy to understand; there has to be a big market, not a niche,
and it should preferably be global; the management team has to be involved; the team should
be able to execute a business plan; and management has to be able to raise capital for the deal.
The state of investing: The climate will
continue to be hard, but the worst is likely over.
It can’t be down forever, and there are many
investors who have expressed that they have the
money to put toward the right thing.
photoS by MarShall franklin lonG
Danita Bye
June 2009 // interviewed by nancy crotti
Random ranch
wisdom: if the cattle
get out, you just get
the cattle back in.
if the tractor gets
stuck, you’ve got to
go get it unstuck.
you can’t blame
anybody. you just
have to get it done.
Power of others:
you tap into re-
sources and creativ-
ity and ingenuity
of people, believe
in them and inspire
them so they can be
successful.
Down economies:
what happens
during a time like
this, if there have
been any weaknesses in the sales
organization or
the sales process,
those are exposed.
ita bye is
founder
d ceo of
es Growth
ecialists.
